evening to inquire after her, and was told that
she was resting comfortably. He did not try to see her, and in this was
wise. He had now fallen into a habit of delicate consideration, which
brought its own reward. He had given up hope of winning her heart
or confidence by storm, and had followed his finer and better
instincts--had come to the point where he made no claims, and even in
his own mind stood upon no rights. His mother brought him word from Lali
before he retired, to say that she was sorry she could not see him, but
giving him a message and a commission into town the following morning
for their son. Her tact had grown is her strength had declined. There is
something in failing health--ill-health without disease--which
sharpens and refines the faculties, and makes the temper exquisitely
sensitive--that is, with people of a certain good sort. The aplomb
and spirited manner in which Lali had borne herself at the wedding and
after, was the last flicker of her old strength, and of the second phase
in her married life. The end of the first phase came with the ride at
the quick-set hedge, this with a less intent but as active a temper.

The next morning she did not appear at breakfast, but sent a message
to Frank to say that she was better, and adding another commission for
town. All day, save for an hour on the balcony, she kept to her room,
and lay down for the greater part of the afternoon. In the evening, when
Frank returned, his mother sent for him, and frankly told him that she
thought it would be better for him to go away for a few weeks or so;
that Lali was in a languid, nervous state, and she thought that by the
time he got back--if he would go--she would be better, and that better
things would come for him.

Frank was no longer the vain, selfish fellow who had married
Lali--something of the best in him was at work. He understood, and
suggested a couple of weeks with Richard at their little place in
Scotland. Also, he saw his wife for a little while that evening. She
had been lying down, but she disposed herself in a deep chair before
he entered. He was a little shocked to see, as it were all at once,
how delicate she looked. He came and sat down near her, and after a few
moments of friendly talk, in which he spoke solicitously of her health,
he told her that he thought of going up to Scotland with Richard for a
few weeks, if she saw no objection.

She did not quite understand why he was going. She though